Los Angeles Dodgers

Mets face tall order trying to slow down Dodgers (Aug 05, 2017)

Published Aug. 5, 2017 2:20 a.m. ET

NEW YORK -- One game into a three-game series, the New York Mets have already learned what the rest of the Los Angeles Dodgers' opponents knew even before the Dodgers went out and acquired Yu Darvish: It's hard to establish momentum against the best team in baseball.

The Mets will look to slow down the red-hot Dodgers on Saturday afternoon when the teams square off at Citi Field. New York right-hander Seth Lugo (5-3, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Los Angeles left-hander Rich Hill (8-4, 3.35).

The Dodgers continued their remarkable eight-week run Friday night when Darvish picked up the win by throwing seven scoreless innings in his first start for Los Angeles in a 6-0 victory.

"He adds another ace, in my opinion," Mets first baseman/right fielder Jay Bruce said after the game. "He's one of the best pitchers in the game. Doesn't make for an easy lineup of pitchers to go through."

A leadoff homer in the first inning by Chris Taylor provided all the offense necessary for Darvish and the Dodgers (77-32), who have won three of the first four games on their current nine-game road trip and are a whopping 42-7 since June 7.

"To start a road trip, win our first three out of four, get in late (Thursday) night (from Atlanta) and for Chris Taylor and Yu to set the tone for our ballclub after a late night was a really good thing," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

The Dodgers haven't lost a series since June 5-7 when they dropped two of three to the Washington Nationals. Los Angeles has lost consecutive games just once since then.

"They're outstanding," Mets manager Terry Collins said after Friday's loss. "You've got to keep them down, you've got to keep yourself in the game."

That's easier said than done, especially against Hill, who was National League pitcher of the month in July after going 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five starts. Hill, who won his most recent start July 29 after allowing one run in 5 2/3 innings of the Dodgers' 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, struck out 40 and walked just five in 31 innings last month, during which he lowered his overall ERA from 4.60 to 3.35.

"His mix is very simple," Roberts told reporters after the start about Hill, who complements an 88 mph fastball with one of the toughest curveballs in the game. "But when he's attacking, he's in a good place."

Lugo will be trying to bounce back from one of his worst starts of the season last Sunday when he took the loss after giving up five runs in five innings as the Mets fell to the Seattle Mariners 9-1.

The five innings were the fewest Lugo has thrown in a start this year and the five runs were the second most he has surrendered in 10 appearances (nine starts).

Hill is 1-2 with a 9.00 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) against the Mets. Lugo has never faced the Dodgers.